Lost Lake Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail starts out behind the Tower Ranger Station and steeply climbs up through a sagebrush meadow bordering an older stand of trees. Views of the vast grasslands surrounding the Yellowstone River get better with every steep step. The trail eventually levels off in a nice open meadow, traverses, then drops down to the Petrified Tree Exhibit. The petrified tree is behind a metal fence to keep visitors from stealing souvenirs. This parking lot also serves as an alternate starting/stopping spot for the loop.

From the parking lot, the trail gently heads up a forest-lined meadow that eventually leads to Lost Lake. The lake is a lily-pad lined affair frequented by waterfowl. Flowers in the spring and early summer are plenty and black bears and bison are frequently seen around the area.

After following the shoreline of the lake, the trail enters a pleasant older forest and comes to a junction with the Lost Lake Connector that heads down steeply to the Roosevelt Lodge. Stay right to continue on the level trail that works its way through the forest and up Lost Creek. The trail crosses over this lovely, bubbling stream and follows it downstream. It eventually reaches the rim of a cliff giving you expansive views outward and also great views of Lost Creek Falls tucked away in the cliffs behind you.

The trail continues back into the woods until it comes to a meadow and a junction with the Roosevelt Lodge-Tower Falls Trail. Continue straight where the Lost Lake Horse Spur Trail takes you to behind the corrals at the Roosevelt Lodge to complete the loop.

This content was created by Jake Bramante of Hike 734. Visit hike734.com for more expert Yellowstone content and maps that help you decide which trail to hike.

Wildflowers are great in the meadows and bison and bears frequent the area with some pronghorn down low. Birding is also fantastic with the wide variety of habitat types and the borders between them.